And round and round they go. Just days after Paradigm poached the key members of Abrams Artists’ Youth Department, Abrams has hired the agents of the Youth Department at Buchwald/Fortitude. We hear the entire department — head Pamela Fisher, senior agent Chrissy Eaden and junior agent Famata Kamara — left Buchwald/Fortitude yesterday and will start at Abrams on Monday, bringing their clients with them. They’ll join Domina Holbeck and Jeremy Apody already in Los Angeles and Ellen Gilbert, Bonnie Shumofsky, and Rachel Altman already in NYC. The move comes three months after Don Buchwald & Associates, where the three agents had been based, teamed with Fortitude. Meanwhile, CEO Harry Abrams got on the phone with Deadline today and denied that having primary agents Wendi Green and Jen Millar with good clients from his youth department leaving to join Paradigm is “disastrous”. (Their clients include Angus Jones, the highest-paid “child” actor from Two And A Half Men, Vanessa Marano, and Madeline Carroll.) But Abrams did confirm that what we’d heard; that Marna Palmer, a prominent commercial agent, and Brandon Martinez, the sole agent in the company’s New Media division, decided to depart as well. The CEO told Deadline that Palmer is relocating while Martinez is getting into the music biz.

29 Comments

I’m not sure if I understand your point. What do you mean there is no music business? Singers and songwriters have to have agents and managers. That is part of the business, right?

A. Nonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Brandon was passionate about his work and a great guy, although he was never really given the time of day or resources to build his vision at Abrams. Music is a good fit for him, I’m sure he’ll do great in his next venture.

AAA4Ever • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry uses carrier pidgeons. Didn’t think he could work the phone. Almost feel bad for the guy. Almost.

Rolling My Eyes • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

The word is spelled “pigeon”, idiot.

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry got on the phone? i thought he only used carrier pigeons and smoke signals…

David • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry Abrams is a class act and anyone jumping ship will realize it within a year.

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Thanks David. This is so funny I just sharted

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry Abams is a lowlife slave driver who pays his employees minimum wage, has no clue whats going on in his own company and when he is done with someone he spits them out and hires someone else who will work for minimum wage.

Wendi Greene is a strong lady and she deserves to be with Paradigm where her and the talent she represents will be recognized. My only concern is that again our business is downsizing.

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Nikki, when are you gonna get it? None of these deals involved the “sale” of talent. Entire client lists are not moving from one agency to another. Child actors are not cattle, and they cannot be herded to new agencies along with their agents. The talent will choose where they want to go.

The agents, unlike the adult world, are JUST employees of the agency (no percentage). The only news is that a couple of employees at Abrams are leaving. Did you find out if they were asked to leave, or if they chose to move on? That would be a story.

The actors at Abrams had no contracts with the agency and most of them will choose to stay with Abrams. The children currently repped at Buchwald will have to review their contracts with the agency before they go to Abrams. Most of Buchwald’s clients are not Abram’s caliber and one would hope that Abrams will not be blindly taking them on.

I hope you will cover the story when both Paradigm and Abrams dump the actors they agreed to take, but don’t really want, in 6 months.

Rabbit • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

You’re right. Child actors are NOT cattle.

They’re little child laborers sold in to slavery for mommy.

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Not why just the 2 from Abrams are “leaving” but why also the 3 from Buchwald are jumping ship

E • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Marna will also be missed. A very strong and well liked agent with both talent and casting directors. Where ever she ends up, she’ll do well.

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

I must say that Marna Palmer is damn fine agent and a class act all around, and will be missed!

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

So is Buchwald Talent Group no more? Are they going to hire new youth agents?

Doug E. Fresh • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

The only agent at Abrams who is a real Hollywood player is Ellen Gilbert. If she leaves, then that would be a disaster to AAA. All of the top agencies have been after her for years, but Harry treats her very well.

bentley heinz • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

ellen, is that you ellen??

Nathan • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

“are you familiar with the long hours and the notoriously long pay?”

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Are they really going to take all of their clients with them?

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

I didn’t realize that musical chairs was now a Special Olympics sport.

MC702 • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Pam Fisher is a class act with a great client list and Abrams will benefit from her joining their ranks. Best of luck to them!

Subterranean • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Enjoy the basement offices, the echoes, the noise of foot traffic above and the stench of being below ground, Paradigm’s newest agents!

Anonymous • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

How does this affect the youth represented by Buchwald?

Dave E. • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry runs an excellent office. He protects his people and his other execs protect agents in recessions.
He and his NY office in particular are perennial winners. Departing agents cannot assume talent will move too…time will tell.

Dave E. • on Jul 29, 2011 1:54 pm

Harry respects loyalty as he and his other execs protect agents when numbers are down.
He and his NY office in particular are perennial winners. Departing agents cannot assume talent will move too…time will tell.